Customer reviews for KitchenAid KCM111OB
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Category: Kitchen
Brand: KitchenAid
Model: KCM111OB
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KitchenAid KCM111OB Review by RVAA
I bought this coffee pot as a temporary replacement (while I wait on a part for my Cuisinart Grind/Brew so I can go back to that one). It was the least expensive "decent" coffeepot that was available in the store for immediate purchase at BB & B. I was intrigued by the KitchenAid brand, as I know their large kitchen appliances are good (my mom has used them forever), but I had never seen a coffee pot by them. We have had several Cuisinart coffee makers over the years and they are good, but most have needed replacement after about 2-3 years. So, anyway, I got this machine home and went online to see the reviews (this was the one machine that I had NOT already read the reviews on before going to the store) and was worried after reading all the horror stories about the leaking and mess. But, hubby needed his coffee at 4:30 this morning, so I went ahead and opened it up to give it a shot. I read the manual and took it out of the box, removed the packaging stuff and set it on the counter. I washed the stuff you are supposed to and when I went to rinse the carafe, I think I stumbled on something that might be causing some of those other reviewers a problem. I filled the carafe at the sink just as if the machine were dripping coffee into the top of the carafe lid. (A medium/small drizzle of water directly onto the "bubble" top of the carafe.) It was an interesting experiment that demonstrated that if the carafe was not almost perfectly level, or the water didn't flow almost directly straight onto the middle of the bubble top, then it ran off the sides of the carafe lid. So I wonder... if perhaps some of those folks have a countertop that is slightly less than level. I know in our first home, I had countertops that were not level. Not noticeable most of the time, but it would have probably been enough to cause this issue with this pot. Also, after paying careful attention to that, and seeing that the depressed area around the "bubble" of the lid is rather small and that the REST of the lid is completely flat I set the carafe into the coffee maker. And noticed that if you don't have the handle oriented to the direct front of the machine (if it is turned to either side) it pushes the pot out just slightly enough that the proper angle is not achieved with the bubble top and the bottom of the brew basket.... in other words, the coffee will end up dripping off to the side of the bubble enough that it will run off the lid (because it will flow outside the little depression around the bubble). If the handle is to the front, then the coffee flows straight down onto the top of the bubble thingee and it works perfectly.
I also practiced (can't believe I am even typing this) pouring from the carafe over the sink with just water as I was washing/rinsing the carafe. There was not one single drip. No matter how fast or slowly I poured. So I don't understand the problem others are having. Maybe after some use the carafe seal will become damaged or something, but for now, I couldn't ask for anything more!
I ran the original water only cycle to rinse/clean the machine for first time use. Then set it up for a pot of coffee. Hubby turned it on this morning in the wee hours (like 5 a.m.) and then after making his cup, poured the rest into the thermal carafe (from our Cuisinart) so it would stay warm for me, since I wasn't going to be up until closer to 8:00 a.m. He didn't leave it on the warmer at all... just straight into the carafe. I poured my first cup around 8:45 a.m. this morning and it was still hot. :)) And tasted pretty good... I will have to tweak it a little, but that is the amount of grounds to use, not an issue with the coffee pot itself. Anyone who says it isn't hot, must have a different machine that what was inside our box.
As for dripping/leaks from the carafe... I guess only time will tell. But I had NO water or coffee anywhere except in the carafe where it belongs.
So, make sure your counter is level, and make sure you orient the carafe into the machine with the handle in the front (not to the sides) and I don't think you should have any problems. I think it works great! And was certainly worth the $68 I paid for it (after the BB&B 20% off coupon).
KitchenAid KCM111OB Review by Heather Schultz
My husband and I have been looking for a coffee pot with only one feature: removable water tank. After reading reviews, we purchased the Kitchen Aid 12-cup Glass Carafe Coffee Maker. We've had it for a week, but are already reaping the benefits of the numerous features (besides the removable tank). Setup is a cinch - plug it in, add water and coffee, push the 'Brew' button, and you're good to go. I was disappointed to learn that you CAN'T change the time while coffee is brewing. There are features for brew strength (Reg and Bold), you can choose how long to keep the heating element on (and it will tell you how long coffee has been sitting in the pot!), there's a program function, it automatically shuts off after 2 hours (default setting - can change to 4 hours if needed), and the cord retracts into the base if you don't want all of it hanging out. It will brew 14 cups of coffee in about 10 minutes.
There are a couple of dislikes (I won't call them negatives; I would still purchase this if I knew about them). I don't like that there is a somewhat cumbersome sequence that must be gone through to program the coffee maker - my last one was very straightforward (push program, choose time, push start twice for timer to be activated) - and I believe I will need to use the book the first half dozen or so times just until I get the pattern down. Also, the filter basket is accessed through the front of the coffee maker (a door swings out, from above the carafe, and the basket comes out). That's all well and fine, but the maker also features a 'pause' mechanism that sits on the bottom of the basket (in case you can't wait for the full pot to be completed), so when you try to set it down to add the coffee, it doesn't sit flat.
Overall, we really like that is has a removable tank, the mechanism to load the coffee seems sturdy enough to withstand thousands of openings/closings, and my parents, who have used Bunn coffee pots for the past 15 years or so, threatened to take it last time they were out for a visit.
KitchenAid KCM111OB Review by Jim H. (Brookings Oregon USA)
The best description I can use for this coffee maker is "quixotic." Positives - makes great coffee; carafe is well supported structurally especially at the top and I can get my hand inside to clean it; carafe does not drip when pouring coffee; removable water reservoir is convenient; has nice contemporary styling; brewing is relatively quiet; heats brewing water to a good hot temperature; and warming plate keeps coffee good and hot.
Negatives - if opening brewing compartment lid after brewing with the carafe not in place condensation runs down all over the warming plate; opening the brewing compartment lid after brewing also results in dripping onto the top of the machine and some may run down the side and can be difficult to dry if it runs underneath; brew set function is truly quixotic - if setting to automatic within a couple of hours of the machine being shut off from previously brewing it works as per the instructions but if one waits much more than that before using the brew set button it takes anywhere from one to three attempts to get it it set to auto or even to start brewing another pot without the auto setting (the first machine I got did this and when I exchanged it the second one does the same); white water level marks on water reservoir can be difficult to see when filling; and the plastic rim which supports the top of the carafe retains coffee and water after supposedly emptying it and continues to do so for some time even after repeated attempts to dry it in the process of washing it out.
Overall, one would feel that this relatively pricey coffee maker would be rather faultless and better designed, given that my wife's KitchenAid mixer is so and is powerful enough to mix cement. Our previous Hamilton Beach coffee maker with removable water reservoir cost $23 and lasted 12 years, and was trouble and fault free until it finally died. This KitchenAid machine needs design changes to make it truly worth its cost as well as consistent in operation. Still, its advantages make it reasonably useful for us.
Followup: After about a month and a half of use with the second of these coffee makers my wife pressed the "Brew" button and it stuck firmly in the pressed-in position, making the coffee maker unusable. I could not pry the button out to its proper position even when using a jeweler's screwdriver. Using the (thankfully!) one-year guarantee I phoned KitchenAid and they are to send a replacement and have me return the defective one at no charge.
Followup about followup: Cheers for KitchenAid's warranty service. Phoning them on their toll-free number resulted in a new machine delivered to our West Coast door within a week. This replacement (our third of these coffeemakers) has the same quirks as the others except that it is more consistent when pressing the "Brew" button, even though still not working as per the instructions.
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KitchenAid KCM111OB::Description
Whether you enjoy freshly brewed coffee first thing in the morning, as a refresher in the afternoon, or with a dessert after a meal, the KitchenAid collection of coffee makers are designed to brew rich, flavorful coffee.
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